Trenton: The gun lobby suffered a major stumble today in its campaign to increase gun industry profits by arming all Americans, when its pet national legislation, the Thune Amendment, or so-called 'Protecting States Rights and Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act,' was defeated by the US Senate.

Bryan Miller, Executive Director of Ceasefire NJ, the Garden State's leading organization devoted to reducing gun violence, said: "Today's narrow victory for public safety over the profits of the gun industry should be celebrated by all New Jerseyans with any desire to make our homes, schools and communities safer from the scourge of gun violence."

The Thune Amendment would have forced states to honor permits to carry concealed weapons (CCW) from other states, trampling on the rights of each state to set its own public safety and gun laws and policies.

Miller continued: "The Thune Amendment clearly demonstrates the incredible arrogance of the National Rifle Association (NRA), its fellow pro-gun organizations, the gun industry they protect and those cowardly legislators in Washington doing the gun lobby's bidding. Thank God the NRA and its minions finally went too far, and the citizenry rose up and said 'Enough!' And, imagine, the gun lobby had the nerve to refer to 'protecting states rights' while attempting to totally obliterate them."

New Jersey, which tightly controls the number of CCW permits it grants and then generally only to armored car guards and security guards, would have been forced to allow residents of other states to legally carry concealed guns in public here - even to the point of allowing out-of-state CCW permit holders to carry assault pistols, which have been banned in NJ for almost 20 years, in our state.

"The real story of today's victory is citizen action," said Miller. "Less than a week ago the gun lobby was prematurely claiming victory and citing as many as 65 'sure' votes for its abominable amendment. But, then citizens across the country, and particularly in states with significant urban and suburban populations, got concerned, got angry and got in gear. Thousands of calls were made and a number of the gun lobby's 'sure' votes became votes against the gun lobby's latest."

"New Jerseyans should thank Governor Corzine, Senators Lautenberg and Menendez and Attorney General Milgram for this happy result, as well," said Miller. "These fine public servants led the fight in Washington to convince legislators, the press and public of the necessity of defeating the Thune Amendment. Governor Corzine even traveled to Washington yesterday to work the halls on behalf of the safety of New Jersey's citizens."